Thou hast but to name the suburb in which thy father dwells." Sibyll involuntarily raised her wimple, lifted her beautiful eyes to the stranger, in bewildered gratitude and surprise.

Her childhood had passed in a court, her eye, accustomed to rank, at once perceived the high degree of the speaker.

The contrast between this unexpected and delicate gallantry and the condescending tone and abrupt desertion of Marmaduke affected her again to tears.
"Ah, worshipful sir!" she said falteringly, "what can reward thee for this unlooked-for goodness ?" "One innocent smile, sweet virgin!--for such I'll be sworn thou art." He did not offer her his hand, but hanging the gold-enamelled rein over his arm, walked by her side; and a few words sufficing for his guidance, led her across the ground, through the very midst of the throng.

He felt none of the young shame, the ingenious scruples of Marmaduke, at the gaze he encountered, thus companioned.

But Sibyll noted that ever and anon bonnet and cap were raised as they passed along, and the respectful murmur of the vulgar, who had so lately jeered her anguish, taught her the immeasurable distance in men's esteem between poverty shielded by virtue, and poverty protected by power.
But suddenly a gaudy tinsel group broke through the crowd, and wheeling round their path, the foremost of them daringly approached the nobleman, and looking full into his disdainful face, exclaimed, "Tradest thou, too, for kisses?
Ha, ha! life is short,--the witch is outwitched by thee! But witchcraft and death go together, as peradventure thou mayest learn at the last, sleek wooer." Then darting off, and heading her painted, tawdry throng, the timbrel-girl sprang into the crowd and vanished.
This incident produced no effect upon the strong and cynical intellect of the stranger.